Our Network

For 25 years, Spelman Johnson has been higher education’s foremost firm for identifying and cultivating administrative leaders possessing the vision and skill set to advance a comprehensive 21st century mission-driven agenda. We are committed to supporting student affairs as a profession, we have a pipeline to identify talented leaders, and we are engaged in the national conversation helping to define and promote best practices in the field.

  • Key sponsor and business partner, NASPA—Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, the premier professional association for student affairs professionals
  • Spelman Johnson was the firm that partnered with the NASPA Board of Directors in 1995 undertaking the search that led to Gwen Dungy being named Executive Director, a position she held until her retirement in 2012
  • Attend and present at NASPA’s annual national conference

Selected presentations:

  • Exploring the Presidency, 2015
  • The Transition from Director to Dean or AVP: What You Need to Make This Leadership Move, 2015
  • Ferguson and Beyond: Changing Campus Cultures, part of panel, 2015
  • How to be Young, Experienced and in a Leadership Role on Campus, 2015
  • Student Affairs Redefined: A National Discussion, pre-conference session, 2013
  • Influencing Student Affairs and Academic Affairs Through Formal Alignment, 2012
  • Tracking the Social Footprint in the Hiring Process, 2011
  • View From the Top: Cabinet Leadership, 2010

Selected publications:

  • Heffernan, E. (2011). Competencies for the Seasoned Student Affairs Officer: View from the Top. In G. Dungy and S. Ellis, (Eds.) Exceptional Senior Student Affairs Administrators’ Leadership: Strategies and Competencies for Success (pp. 117-120). Washington, DC: NASPA Publications
  • Heffernan, E. (2012). Wanted: The Perfect Partnership, Creating an Associate Vice President Recruitment Strategy. Leadership Exchange, 10 (1), 16-18
  • Heffernan, E. contributing author (2014). The Path to the Presidency: Do You Have What It Takes? Leadership Exchange, 12 (3)
  • Sponsor of NASPA’s Regional New Professionals Awards—a conference registration for each award winner as determined by each of the NASPA regions
  • Sponsor and serve on the faculty for NASPA’s Alice Manicur Institute for women who aspire to the senior student affairs officer position
  • Sponsor and serve on the faculty for NASPA’s New Chief Student Affairs Officers Institute for student affairs professionals new to the senior student affairs role
  • Sponsor and serve on the faculty for the Stevens Institute for Senior Student Affairs Officers an institute for chief student affairs officers
  • Sponsor NASPA’s African American Leadership Summits
  • Sponsor and serve as faculty for NASPA’s Aspiring Senior Student Affairs Officers Institute for mid-level student affairs leaders who are seeking the chief student affairs officer positions
  • Sponsor and serve as faculty for NASPA’s Small College and University Institute for chief student affairs officers of small institutions
  • NASPA Region I Mid-Level Institute, NASPA V/VI Mid-Level Training Institute, and other NASPA regional conferences serve as presenters on career advancement and developing leadership skills aimed at middle managers
  • Frequent presenters at The Placement Exchange, NASPA’s annual career fair for new and mid-level professionals
  • Sponsor and presenter at SACSA—Southern Association of College Student Affairs
  • Fundraising: Cultivating and Creating Innovative Business Partnerships, annual conference, 2009
  • Preparing for the Next Career Move, annual conference, 2008
  • Presenter at NASPA’s Multicultural Institute, the Latino Knowledge Community, and the Asian-Pacific Knowledge Community on career advancement and developing leadership skills
  • Hiring Well—Recruiting, Selecting, and Retaining Talent, NASPA Multicultural Institute
  • Sponsor and attendee of the Council of Independent Colleges’ Chief Academic and Chief Student Affairs Officers Institute
  • Sponsor and presenter at the Association of Florida Colleges Student Development Commission
  • Search Success, session, Commission Conference, 2012
  • Charting Your Career Path, session, Commission Conference, 2013
  • Present and attend NASAP—National Association of Student Affairs Professionals national conference
  • Present and attend NACA—National Association of Campus Activities national conference
  • ACUHO-I—Association of College and University Housing Officers-International, SJG sponsors the national conference and serve on the faculty of the National Housing Training Institute
  • Presenter and attendee—NIRSA—Leaders in Collegiate Recreations professionals annual conference
  • Unlocking the Secrets to a Successful Job Search, webinar, 2011
  • Crafting a Stellar Cover Letter and Resume, webinar, 2011
  • Insights into Interviewing, webinar, 2011
  • Fundraising: Creating & Cultivating Innovative Business Partnerships, annual conference, 2009